Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink quizzed by QPR over transfer claim as he remains in job

Carry on: Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink will work as usual during the investigation Rex Features

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink was today quizzed by QPR after he was the latest manager named in an investigation into corruption in football.

The QPR boss was alleged to have negotiated a £55,000 fee to fly to the Far East and work for a company looking to sell players to the Championship club.

QPR launched an investigation and Hasselbaink spoke to Rangers director of football Les Ferdinand this morning about the allegations. Ferdinand is leading the probe with chief executive Lee Hoos, who was due to speak to Hasselbaink today, with owner Tony Fernandes out of the country.

Hasselbaink has not been suspended by the club and is expected to be in charge for their trip to Fulham on Saturday. He was due to take training today and will continue in his role as normal while the investigation is ongoing.

Hasselbaink was named as part of Daily Telegraph investigation which led to Sam Allardyce leaving his post as England manager on Tuesday night.

Video footage shows Hasselbaink asking his suitors to “come up with a nice figure” for a role in their company, which the Telegraph says would involve a number of trips to meet with the firm in Singapore. In a statement last night, QPR said they have “every confidence in our manager”.

Hasselbaink, 44, said in a statement: “I have, through my lawyers, responded in full to the accusations levelled against me by The Telegraph.

“I was approached by Mr McGarvey and Ms Newell of The Telegraph purporting to be players’ agents. They offered me a fee to make a speech in Singapore. I do not see anything unusual in being offered to be paid to make a speech.

“I did not make any promises in return. I did not ask QPR to purchase any of the players who were said to be managed by Mr McGarvey and Ms Newell and did not and would not recommend the purchase of a player for my personal gain. I deny any accusations of wrongdoing on my part.”

A QPR statement said: “First and foremost, the club takes very seriously any alleged breach of the rules.

“With this in mind, the club can confirm that there will be a thorough internal investigation regarding this matter. However, we have every confidence in our manager and the robust systems and processes the club has in place.”

Meanwhile, Barnsley have suspended their assistant head coach Tommy Wright following allegations — also coming from the Telegraph’s undercover sting — he took a £5,000 ‘bung’ to help place players at his club.

Leeds owner Massimo Cellino was also implicated in the Telegraph investigation, with the Italian alleged to have offered a way to help businessman get around third-party ownership rules.

Wright denies any wrongdoing and Leeds called the allegations concerning Cellino a “non-story”.